Tuesday 8th August

Would the Bass microclimate do its bit to beat the dire forecast today as the day started with a mirror like lake. Although ripples appeared on the water before the scheduled start time, the OD opted to wait for it to be a bit more full bodied before starting racing. The wind did settle down to the forecast NNE(ish) direction but there wasn’t any planing conditions to be had. As ever, there was shifts to challenge everyone, including a 180O shift to throw the cat amongst the pigeons in the Flying 15 fleet in the morning race!

After lunch there was the pursuit race; this time the wind shifted more to the east for a while resulting in the beat turning almost into a fetch. This, of course, aided those boats on that leg at the time, but the beat did return, together with a stronger breeze and a heavy downpour for a short while. Paul Allen was had built up a big lead in the Mirrors, but son Reuben was getting cold after the rain so he opted to forego the chance of winning the pursuit and retired whilst in the lead. There was to be a close finish with Bass’ Paul Bowmer and Dave Lawson in a GP chasing Chris Parker with a newbie crew in a Graduate, but the Graduate held the lead to win the Nairn pursuit.